MADE TO MAKE IMPACT
(An Elegy for Emma Ugoji)
A wish here
An emoji there
A prayer shared
To express emotions
That well up against the shock
Unleashed by the sudden exit of a brother,
A lover, a partner, a sister, or a colleague!
Over the past twenty-something years
That the call to duty crossed our paths
You never failed to play your part
Whether in speaking your mind on issues as hot as fire
Or just reaching out to say “Happy Birthday” to a brother.
And now, these will be no more;
Rather, we are left to mourn!
You were made to make impact
Anywhere and everywhere you were
Just as you did only a few days ago
When you joined our media fraternity, the BGF –
Which makes your sudden exit
Without a goodbye
All the more tragic.
Alas!
A sympathy party cannot bring back the departed;
Yet a word of prayer causes no offence
But brings consolation to those hit by the tribulation
That an unplanned exit like yours foists on relations and friends.
So, while our hearts are with your loved ones
The unknowns about the reaper
Make us shudder and ponder;
Who knows for whom the bell tolls next?
But one thing we know for sure though:
The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh
And all glory returns unto the Lord.
May our wishes and meditations oil the wheels
That transport you to the wide blue yonder place
Where we pray the Lord to grant you eternal peace!
From Random Thoughts: A Collection of Essays and Poems
By Tony Ekata
